Ocala

December 30, 2024

News: Citrus County man dies in motorcycle accident in SW Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A car and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal collision in southwest Ocala early Thursday morning, reports the Ocala Star-Banner.

The incident occurred at Southwest 80th Avenue and Southwest 80th Street at about 4:10 a.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a Hyundai was going south on SW 80th Avenue and attempted to make a left turn onto SW 80th Street. The driver apparently did not see a motorcycle rider going north and pulled out into his path, resulting in the crash.

The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old man from Citrus County, was thrown onto the grass shoulder and was pronounced dead after being taken to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. The driver of the Hyundai, an 87-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the same hospital.

December 17, 2024

News: Collision in southwest Ocala leaves 1 driver dead, 1 seriously injured

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – An elderly driver died after her vehicle was involved in a collision southwest Ocala last week, the Ocala StarBanner reports.

The incident happened Wednesday in the area of State Road 200 and SW 73rd Street Road, where state troopers responded just after 10 a.m.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a Nissan 370Z was going east on Southwest 73rd Street Road and tried to make a turn at the intersection. She turned in front of a Chevy Silverado pickup truck that was going north on SR 200, resulting in a collision that caused the Chevy to overturn.

December 4, 2024

News: Suspect arrested in Belleview hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BELLEVIEW, FL – A suspect is under arrest in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred in Belleview on Sunday afternoon, the Ocala StarBanner reports.

The Belleview Police Department said that Christian Patrick Parker was charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

Police said Parker was driving a 1998 Lincoln Town Car when he struck and killed 34-year-old Ariel Hartford on U.S. 441 south. An investigation determined that Parker allegedly went through a stop light and struck Hartford as she was attempting to cross the street at about 2:47 p.m. The driver kept going after the collision without stopping, according to police.

November 21, 2024

News: Bicyclist dies following hit-and-run incident on State Road 200

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A bicyclist was found dead Wednesday morning after what Ocala police said was a hit-and-run incident.

The Ocala StarBanner reports the victim, a 28-year-old man, was discovered at about 7 a.m. in bushes in the 4400 block of State Road 200, west of Interstate 75.

Police said their initial investigation indicated that the man was on an e-bike and crossing State Road 200 northbound when he was hit by a westbound vehicle. The bike rider’s name was not released.

November 18, 2024

News: 1 dead, 4 hurt when van returning from hurricane cleanup work crashes on I-75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A minivan returning from post-hurricane cleanup work was involved in a fatal accident in Marion County on Wednesday, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

Five men who were coming back from Georgia and heading toward Naples were in a Honda Odyssey van that was traveling south on Interstate 75.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the Honda lost control of the vehicle at the top of a hill near the exit for State Road 326, after one of the tires apparently blew out.

November 14, 2024

News: 1 dead in collision involving van and semi-truck on Interstate 75

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A collision in Marion County on Tuesday afternoon left one person dead and four others injured.

A report by WESH states that a Honda van and a semi-truck were involved in the crash on Interstate 75 south near mile marker 358. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the van was heading south at about 3:20 p.m. and veered off the roadway toward the center median.

When the driver tried to overcorrect, the van crossed every lane to enter the exit lane toward State Road 326. The driver of the semi tried veering right to avoid the van, but the front of the truck collided with the van’s right side.

November 13, 2024

News: Elderly woman fatally struck by vehicle on Southwest 80th Avenue

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A pedestrian accident in Marion County Friday night claimed the life of an elderly woman, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the 77-year-old victim was attempting to cross near the 6600 block of Southwest 80th Avenue from east to west when the collision occurred. The pedestrian was struck by a southbound Subaru Outback SUV driven by a 74-year-old man.

The woman, who lived nearby, was pronounced dead at 9:48 p.m. The driver, who also lived in the area and was headed home, stopped and stayed at the scene. The driver and his 76-year-old wife who was his passenger were not injured.

October 21, 2024

News: Woman, 38, dies of injuries after being struck by vehicle in Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – A woman has passed away from injuries suffered when she was hit by a vehicle in Ocala earlier this month, reports the Ocala StarBanner.

The incident occurred Oct. 4 in the area of State Road 200 and Southwest 46th Court at about 1115 p.m. The victim was identified as 38-year-old Sheriko Hiroko Johnson of Jacksonville.

According to police, Johnson had been involved in a crash earlier that day on Interstate 75 and had been treated and released from HCA Florida West Marion Hospital for treatment.

August 2, 2024

News: 4 hospitalized following multi-vehicle wreck on I-75 north

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Ocala Fire Rescue said its crews responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 northbound on Thursday afternoon.

According to a Facebook post at 2:28 p.m., the wreck occurred near mile marker 352 and involved a box truck, a compact SUV and a small dump truck.

Rescuers used extrication tools to free the box truck driver who had been trapped inside the vehicle. That driver and a passenger in the SUV were taken to an area hospital as trauma alerts. The drivers of the SUV and the dump truck were also transported for evaluation.

August 1, 2024

News: 2 drivers dead following collision at Marion County intersection

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A collision at an intersection in Marion County Wednesday night left both drivers dead, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Ocala StarBanner reports authorities were called to the scene in the vicinity of U.S. 27 and Northwest 60th Avenue at about 8:24 p.m. The FHP’s investigation determined that a Honda Civic collided with a Toyota Highlander SUV.

The Honda was heading east on U.S. 27 while the Toyota was going in the opposite direction and entered the left turn lane to turn onto 60th Avenue when the vehicles crashed. Both drivers had the green light at the time, state troopers said. Witnesses said the driver of the Toyota violated the Honda’s right-of-way and entered the vehicle’s path.